New garden in a forgotten corner

How to Set up Your Own Tiny Garden in 7 Easy Steps

Container gardening has become increasingly popular in recent years, and with good reason: it is cost-effective, water-wise, space efficient and super easy! Plants, and especially veggies, are happy to grow in pretty much anything, whether it’s a bucket or a bag. You really don’t need a lot of space for it either. As long as you have a sunny spot, you can grow something. Let’s take you through the steps to setting up your own small garden.

DIY Tire Planter

I really like to burn rubber, so pretty much all the tread on two of my tires was gone - it was time for new tires for my little red SUV. We ended up replacing all four tires, and we tossed the two really bad ones, but for some reason decided to hang onto the two that weren't that bad. The hubs and I were cleaning out the garage the other day and saw the two tires stashed in the corner. My husband was ready to take these two beauts to the dump, when I had a vision - a vision that became a reality this past weekend. I used an old tire, an old rim and some left over plywood to make this one of a kind garden planter. Let me share with you how I did it! I started of by giving the outer edges of the rim a fresh coat of black paint. I used just regular flat black spray paint for this. I didn't worry about doing the inside or bottom because this part is not seen.

DIY Wooden Planter Boxes

I've been shopping around for some large planters to put on my front porch. I wanted them larger so I could plant some Perenial Hostas in them. I love buying new flowers every year but it gets costly. So I thought planting perennials might be better because they come back every year. I knew I'd need a bigger Planter and went searching. I found These on Amazon (aff Link) Wooden Planter Boxes WAY to expensive for my little budget. So I convinced the beard to build some for me, and they cost a fraction of the price!

Industrial Style Organizers

Who says plastic storage drawers have to look as cheap as they cost? Try this DIY to take your affordable storage to the next level!

Armoire Rehab

I had this armoire in my one bedroom at the cabin and the brown was not working. It had been years and I was putting it off. Call it lazy, or just not inspired, but either way I didn't want to tackle it till now.I'm so glad I did!First step that everyone knows, wash it down and prepare for sanding.

Saving Soap!

As part of our eco mission we ditched bottled hand wash a long time ago in favour of bars of soap. This has been one of the easiest swaps ever, but it does have one drawback. When the soap gets too small to use it means wasting some, they occasionally snap and sometimes they just start looking plain awful after a while (have you ever been in a public loo with a bar of soap that you're convinced would add dirt to your hands rather than remove it? Well, like that but obviously not as bad haha). Here I show a solution to all those problems.

Turn a Meh Corner Garden Corner Into a Wow in 6 Easy Steps

Once upon a time this used to be my favorite corner: a small herb garden, where I grew plants for cooking and herbal concoctions. There was rosemary and thyme, sage, mint and lavender. And plenty of flowers. But a few years of neglect and a termite nest-we have subterranean termites, the exterminator explained-turned a beautiful corner into an eyesore. Until now.

Easy DIY Backyard Pergola

Having a smaller backyard or one that is oddly shaped can be difficult to work with. I shared a few weeks ago a corner garden that we did for almost no money to add a little something extra to the yard. Our next project was this beautiful pergola that we built ourselves. Pergolas add such a neat architectural dimension to any yard and the possibilities are endless. We wanted one that was small enough to fit in our yard, but still large enough for a porch swing, a table and fire pit. Most pergolas are fairly expensive and we wanted to stay under a $250 budget. By building our own with regular wood and adding lattice to the top, we were able to stay in our budget!

Our Pre-Reno Renovation

In my previous post "A New Exterior on an Old House", I was asked a few times how I chose the classic burgundy for the color. Here's what I did to make sure it was the right color!

Pallets & Old Wood - Bringing New Life to a Boring Spot in the Yard

Our house only has a stoop for the front door...wanted a little seating area. Created a seating area under a newly created window box.

Birch Bark Covered Flowerpots

I will be honest with you, when I first tried to do this project I could not get it to work the way I wanted. I spent a couple of very frustrating hours trying to stick wet springy bark to pots, using a variety of glues to no avail.To make a Birch Bark covered pot like ours you will need some pieces of bark, a terracotta pot, elastic bands and PVA glue. We also painted the rim of our pot with a cream acrylic paint.

DIY Gutter Garden

"Mommy, when can we start a garden?" "Now?" "Is it time yet?" "Now?" "Are we ready yet?" My five-year old has been asking for a garden since last year, so I thought it was time to dig in. But there really wasn't anywhere to dig in our yard. No worries. If you are looking to start a garden with limited space, just start one on a wall or fence.

Wine Bottle Watering Device With Copper Tubing for Container Gardens

Going on vacation? Put a few of these together for your container gardens to keep them hydrated while you are away. The concept of repurposing a wine bottle into a container garden “watering device” has been around for a while. I was intrigued at first, because I love to see glass in the garden, and the idea seemed practical as well as pretty. However, after trying several different methods and contraptions I gave up, until recently. After thinking it through, I made a trip to the hardware store with a very specific idea in mind: use copper tubing to make a wine bottle "funnel." What You'll Need: One wine bottle Glass pearl gems (vase gems) to go inside the bottle * One 1/2" male copper adapter One 1/2" female copper adapter One piece of 1/2" copper tubing (about 24" long) Black electrical tape ½ x .520 Teflon tape (Plumbing Dept.) # 67 O-Ring (13/16“ Outside Diameter x 11/16” x 1/16” Clear waterproof silicone sealant Permanent marker Measuring tape Scissors Hacksaw, Small Vise, Small Flat Metal File, Adjustable Wrench Bamboo stake (or similar, to poke a hole in the soil) * Don't use round glass marbles, as they will block the flow of water. Use odd-shaped floral glass gems that won't block the copper tube. The gems disperse the flow of water through the bottle, as well as add a decorative element to the watering device (especially if the bottle is clear). Copper is a nice companion to glass, and I wanted something easy and simple so that the device would be practical. COPPER TUBE INSTRUCTION NOTES: The wine bottle will be buried up to the base of the neck when it sits in the planter. Keep in mind the extra 2" to account for the adapters, before determining how long to cut the soil-extension piece. For large planters, 6-8" is a good length for the soil tube segment, and 3-4” will be the length of the bottle-neck tube segment. Example: 3" (bottle neck) + 2" (adapters) + 6" (copper tubing) = 11" below the surface of the soil. The copper tubing will deliver water, as well as act as a "stake" to keep the wine bottle stable in the planter. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY: don't leave your bottles outside if the temperatures drop below freezing, as this may cause the bottles to freeze and crack.

Creating a She Shed/Craft Shack - The Exterior

After painting the interior of my She Shed/Craft Shack it was time for me to work on the outside. When the shed initially was delivered, I had it placed at the very back of the property. Every project I would have to trudge all the way back there at least 10 times to get tools and supplies. Needless to say, that got old... QUICK. Major changes were in order for this little shed’s location and exterior! Here is how I did it for less than $200!

Pallet Gate

Hello,We recently got a new addition to the family and needed to build a gate on our side yard to keep the new little guy in the yard instead of running in the bigger back yard. Take a look and hopefully you get some inspiration from it.Best,Steve

Epoxy Tulip Table Top

I bought a Tulip style table base at an auction years ago for $5. Like many of my project ideas, it sat in my garage until I could figure out how to make or get a table top. I absolutely wanted the table to be thin, or at least appear to be very thin, like the OG Saarinen tables.

How to Hang a Vintage Dough Bowl!

A girlfriend and I hit up an outdoor flea market near me this weekend in Dover, New Hampshire. Followed up with a lobster roll at Stonewall Kitchen’s flagship store in York, Maine. Aren’t those just the best kind of days? Thrifting with the Gals I’d love to invite you to join me, along with some of the best thrifting gals I know over on Instagram every Wednesday, where we share all our thrifting adventures, and tips and tricks. We also share how we decorated with all of our finds every Thursday of the month here on the blog. So be sure to sign up for my newsletter to follow along.

Solar Light Cleaning Hack

So if you have solar lights, then no doubt at some point and time they developed that white hazy film over the panel. I have tried several hacks, the toothpaste, WD40, vinegar, nail polish remover...you get my drift. Some worked temporarily, others not at all. I finally found a product that works with little effort.

How To Chalk Paint A Desk

If you love this project, grab your quick start DIY guide & subscribe to our blog!Who’s ready for a furniture flip? We’re going to teach you how to repair wood furniture while transform a wood vintage desk. This chalk paint desk turns out so good!The best time to repair damage on wood furniture is before painting.BEFORE PICTURE

How to Upcycle a Thrift Store Berry Wreath

Got a berry wreath with damaged berries? Don't toss it, upcycle it quickly and easily, with a brand new color! I'll show you how!

Tablecloth for a Patio Table

Garden Play Area

This spring I just couldn’t resist painting up this kids playhouse and adding some Pinterest inspired character to it! It was as simple as changing the layout, adding a few coats of paint and some accessories to add some character!

How to Install a Patio

A stone patio installation is likely the most backbreaking work you will ever do. But it’s also the most rewarding DIY! That’s because the money you save on labour can be put right back into high end finishes and accessories. In our case, that high end finish is real Travertine.We fully intended to splurge on this stone but as luck would have it, the company was moving locations and it was on clearance! Better to sell cheap than to shlep it to the new location, I guess!Anyway, installing real stone is as easy as pavers and looks so elegant when it’s done! So it’s nothing to be intimidated by!BeforeHere’s the yard we’re starting with. Thankfully by the end of our stone patio installation, our neighbours’ gargantuan satellite dish is gone! What an eyesore!

Organizer From a BBQ Grill Rack

Turn old BBQ parts into something glamorous.

My Not So Summer Wreath

Cabinet Organization

Is spring cleaning and organization still happening? I was super happy to get this cabinet organized. I started realizing that with cabinets, items get tossed to the back and are never seen..which means never used and it's hard to know what you really have. The solution was to create pull-out drawers so every item in the cabinet was accounted for.To see how these hold up, or for other DIY ideas, make sure to check out my Instagram.

How to Make a Fragrant & Colorful 5-Minute Sugar Scrub

Find the easy steps to make a sugar scrub that’s fragrant and pretty too. Ready to gift or use in just five minutes!

Herb Garden For the Patio or Porch | Thrifted Bookshelf Flip

Do you enjoy cooking with fresh herbs or want to create a way to enjoy more plants in your small space? Check out how you can transform a thrifted shelving unit into an herb or garden planter for the porch or patio. This would be an easy and inexpensive option for those limited to apartment balconies as well.

Scandinavian Inspired Candleholder With Moss – Cozy Living

Welcome 2021, Happy New Year! Oh boy, 2020 has been quite a year, hasn’t it? I know that most of us have dealt with personal challenges, I mean that is life in and of itself, right? Life is a crazy ride on a good day, but this past year it’s been extra “special”. As I look back on 2020 I personally don’t want to focus on just the negative(s), I really want to try to focus on the silver linings that presented themselves. One of those good things has been the first Saturday of every month, the Cozy Living series has really been a light for me and has kept me wanting to be creative. As I share this Scandinavian inspired candleholder, my first project for 2021, I want you all to know that I am truly thankful to have you here sharing in my little corner of the world, it means so very much! Thank YOU! Cozy Living Team

Farmhouse Stool

I took an old counter height wooden stool and gave it an update to use in the guest bath.

DIY Outdoor Concrete Table: Pottery Barn Look for Less

Find out how to build your own outdoor concrete table this summer to get a Pottery Barn style on a budget.

Easy Chair Seat Repair | Antique School Desk Chair

Today, I am sharing an easy chair seat repair that we have used time and again! Plus, you’re going to LOVE this rare antique desk chair! And yes, there are TWO of them!!

DIY Deck Skirting

Whenever we would sit on our finished patio, all we could see was the eye-sore of our under deck. We didn’t like the look of traditional lattice but decided we needed to do something. We came across the idea to use wood slats and fell in love! This was an easy project that made a big impact on our outdoor space.

How to Add Charm With Inexpensive DIY Wall Decor

Our open concept home has many large walls. Today I want to share a how-to for an easy and inexpensive way to DIY wall decor for large walls.

Patriotic Garland Wreath a Dollar Tree DIY

When I walk around Dollar Tree and see random items that I can create with, it makes me super excited to get home and get crafty! For $3.00, I picked up a wreath form and two garlands then used some supplies from my stash to create a Patriotic Garland Wreath DIY project. Perfect for the Fourth of July and the rest of the year. I like to show my spirit for all things red, white, and blue by keeping up some decorations year-round. It also helps me remember the brave men and women who have made us the Home of the Free because of the Brave.

Rake Wreath Door Project

Give a rusty rake new life as a succulent plant rake wreath. These rake heads make great backdrops for all kinds of wreaths.

The Zero Wood Black and White Outdoor Concrete Table

Full disclosure: This build was sponsored by Concrete Countertop Solutions. All opinions contained in this post and the associated video are my own.Have you seen the price of wood lately?! That’s a stupid question. Of course, you have. Due to the soaring cost of lumber, I decided to build this outdoor with the goal of using no wood at all.